Model Cars - Innocenti

Innocenti was an Italian automotive manufacturer, best known for producing a variety of vehicles, including small cars, luxury cars, and specialty vehicles throughout the 20th century.

Innocenti was founded in 1920 by Pier Luigi Innocenti in Milan, Italy. Initially, the company specialized in the production of metal components for other industries, including parts for motorcycles and bicycles. In the early days, Innocenti was primarily known for producing precision-engineered metal goods and parts for other automotive manufacturers.

Innocenti's shift to automobile production began in the 1940s, when the company began making cars under license. Their first car model, the Innocenti 1100 (introduced in 1954), was a small economy car, but the company started gaining more recognition in the 1960s for its close association with British car manufacturer Mini.

In the 1970s, Innocenti’s fortunes began to falter due to the increasing dominance of Fiat and the economic challenges facing many small manufacturers in Italy.

After Fiat acquired the brand, Innocenti’s production lines were eventually shut down, and the name gradually faded from the automotive market. However, the Innocenti Mini and the company’s other models remain beloved by enthusiasts and collectors, particularly in Italy.

Innocenti’s collaboration with BMC and its own cars contributed to the development of small, stylish, and practical cars that were important for the Italian automotive market in the 1960s to 1980s.